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Here is the story of how I designed Hannah’s wall hanging (a D’var Torah of sorts): I started researching what her first and middle names mean – Hannah means favor, grace, and blessed by G-d, and Miriam means rebellion (uh-oh…). Hannah is perhaps best known for her part in the Haftarah on Yom Kippur when she prays to G-d for a child and in her despair is mistaken for a drunken woman. However, after she finally gives birth to Samuel and dedicates him to the temple, she begins what’s called the Song of Hannah, praising and thanking G-d. There is a also flower that grows in Israel called “Tears of Hannah.” In Hebrew, the flower is called calanit; its Latin name is anemone coronaria. I decided to embroider the flowers on the wallhanging, which of course meant I had to change my original color scheme. Happily, I found fabric that seemed perfect for the task. Miriam is Moses’s sister and is a prophetess, singer and dancer. One commentator suggested that Miriam brought her timbrels as the Israelites fled and crossed the Sea of Reeds because of her absolute faith that G-d would see them safely out of Egypt, thus giving her cause to proclaim “Shiru ladonai” (sing to G-d). This story is found in Parshah Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16). After reading the Torah portions featuring both Hannah and Miriam, a couple of commonalities struck me – first, both used their musical ability as an instrument of their faith. I don’t know if this was intentional, but both her parents are professional musicians in addition to their other real-life roles. Second, both women approached G-d confidently and directly, assuming their prayers would be answered.
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Hannah’s Baby-Naming Wallhanging |
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When I found the commentary below, I knew I had to include it in the story of this wallhanging, because it ties together Hannah and Miriam, as well as this family’s history. “The last ten verses of the Haftarah [First Day Rosh Hashanah; 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10] comprise the Song of Hannah which is considered…as one of the ten songs that encompass the history of the world. … The fact that Hannah’s song has so historic a place in the world’s spiritual history compels us to conclude that the ‘songs’…are not simply inspired poetry or even prayer. In the scriptural sense, shira, song, represents the concept that people understand the harmony of Creation. Nature is always “singing,” because, from the tiniest microorganism to the mightiest galaxy, everything acts and interacts as G-d intended it to. This is song. It is the most awesome symphony conceivable, because it consists of an infinite number of players uniting in playing the Divine score. But man seldom sees this harmony. He is troubled by questions of faith, resentment over his neighbor’s success, and failure to see how events lead toward coherent fulfillment of a Divine scheme. When – on those very rare occasions – people perceive G-d’s plan taking shape, they sing. This is why Moses and the Children of G-d sang after the Splitting of the Sea. [emphasis added: this is the connection to Miriam and her faith voiced through song.] In a lightning flash of perception, they achieved an understanding of centuries of events. This understanding of Creation’s harmony found flesh-and-blood expression in the harmony of song.” Kestenbaum edition of Tikkun: A Torah Reader’s Compendium, 2nd edition 2002, page 671. |
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Allie’s wallhanging commemorates her Bat Mitzvah, which took place on the Shabbat during the festival of Sukkot. Therefore, the outer border and the top of the piece reflects a sukkah, or booth. It is customary to eat family meals as often as possible during the week-long holiday, and many families decorate their sukkah walls with plants, fruits, pictures, etc. The top of the sukkah is covered with branches to offer a modicum of shelter from the rain, but it is also traditional that one should be able to see the stars through the roof of a sukkah. Palm, myrtle and olive branches decorate this roof, which are also symbolic of the holiday. |
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As part of her Bat Mitzvah, Allie took on several meaningful projects, which I also reflected on her wallhanging. First, she dedicated her Bat Mitzvah to a young girl who died in the Holocaust who did not live to see her own Bat Mitzvah day. The butterflies on the wallhanging, taken from the poem “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by Pavel Friedman, represent the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. Allie also spent the summer working at a local animal shelter caring for dogs and collected pet supplies at her Bat Mitzvah party for their care. The dog bones hanging from the roof of the sukkah symbolize this project. |
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Last but not least, Allie also grew her hair so she could donate it to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. That project is represented by a small embroidered locks with a heart in the middle. |